Efforts to avoid a labour disruption at Air Canada may be in jeopardy after about a dozen pilots called in sick, citing stress and fatigue.
CTV is reporting that 19 Air Canada flights out of Montreal have been cancelled after the dozen pilots called in sick today. The last minute morning cancellation created a shortage of pilots, leading to the cancellations and the delay of other flights.
It comes just days after the federal government passed back to work legislation to avoid a labour disruption.
Air Canada had warned pilots at the beginning of this week that work slowdowns, work refusal, or sickouts would amount to an illegal strike.
The federal Ministry of Labour says the government is aware of the situation.
Air Canada meanwhile is offering little comment on why the flights were cancelled or delayed. Websites for both the airline and the airport list a number of delays and cancellations for flights between Montreal and other cities including Toronto, Halifax,Saint John, N.B. and some American destinations.
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick would not confirm that pilots calling in sick is the reason for the disruptions, saying the airline faces a number of operational challenges that include weather.
In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work? This is clearly a work action because of the Federal government won't allow them to strike.
I wonder if there'll consequence for the actions of these pilots?
19 cancelled flights is exactly the type of thing the Feds are trying to prevent.
